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Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was released from a prison here on Thursday, after serving a 42 months sentence for possessing weapons supplied by gangsters behind the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts, NDTV reported.

The 56-year-old star walked free from Yerwada Central Jail around eight months ahead of time, thanks to a reprieve granted on grounds of good behaviour.

Dutt saluted the Indian flag upon exiting the prison building.

He was originally sentenced to a six-year term after being convicted in 2006 of possessing guns supplied by mafia bosses who orchestrated the series of bombings in Mumbai that killed 257 people. He spent 18 months in prison before being released on bail in 2007, pending an appeal.

In March 2013, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction but cut his prison term from six years to five.

Dutt was later granted four extra weeks of freedom to work on unfinished movies and went back to jail in May that year to serve the remaining three-and-a-half years of his sentence.

Prior to his release, the Pune police tightened security outside the jail premises, reported Filmfare.. Similar security plans are said to being enforced around Dutt's Pali Hill house by the Mumbai Police. He boarded a chartered flight to return home due to security reasons and the possibility of a huge media turnout outside the jail to cover the release of the Bollywood superstar.